Research
Awards/Lecture Exchange Program
– Kevin M.
Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC, has been selected as the recipient of
the 2006 Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research,
presented in honor of Joseph S. Torg, MD. Darin A. Padua,
PhD, ATC, has been selected as recipient of the 2006 New
Investigator Award, presented in honor of Freddie H. Fu,
MD. The recipient of the Doctoral Dissertation Award,
presented in honor of David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC, will be
Timothy A. Butterfield, PhD, ATC. These distinguished
researchers will receive their awards and present lectures
at the NATA Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Agreements remain in
place for continuing a lecture exchange program with ACSM,
AMSSM and AOSSM. Representatives of these associations will
present their research findings during the NATA Annual
Meeting and Clinical Symposia. Such relationships foster
and strengthen the mutually supportive role that NATA and
these organizations presently enjoy.
Funded
Research Presentations
– A record number of applications for research grants has
been received this year. Eleven of the Foundation’s grant
recipients are scheduled to present their research findings
at the 2006 NATA Annual Meeting. These developments clearly
indicate an increasing interest and participation in
meaningful research relative to the athletic training
profession. The Foundation board authorized the inclusion of
overhead costs (up to 15%) in grant application budgets,
beginning in 2005. This expanded appeal has encouraged even
more applicants. In 2006, the Foundation will surpass the
$2 million mark in total grants awarded. This is a
significant accomplishment in the relatively short period of
existence of the Foundation.
Research
Results
– Fifty-five Grant Information Summaries are
now available. Each GIS provides summarized results of a
research project the Foundation has funded. The plan is to
continue our efforts to print several new summaries prior to
each NATA Annual Meeting. The summaries will be distributed
from the Foundation booth and at all Free Communications
sessions. All completed summaries are free to the
membership upon request, and are available for distribution
at all NATA District Meetings. They are also available on
the Foundation web site at no cost. We feel this program
provides a more widespread understanding among NATA members
regarding the importance of funded research to the athletic
training profession and its continued viability.
Free
Communications Program
– The Foundation received 384 abstracts for 2006, another
new record. Once again, this is another indication of
continued widespread interest and participation in research
within the profession, in spite of the $25.00 submission fee
initiated in 2001. Recognition of outstanding student
presentations is accomplished through oral presentations as
well as poster presentations. Presenters are judged in
their peer groups as doctoral, master’s or undergraduate
students. The judging will be completed and the 2006 awards
will be presented on Thursday afternoon (June 15) during the
Distinguished Scholar Presentations Session. All of you are
cordially invited to attend the session, and join in
congratulating these developing leaders of scientific
investigation in support of future athletic training
professionals.
Scholarships
– This program continues to be a terrific success.
Seventy-three (73) $2,000 scholarships (another all-time
record) will be presented to recipients at the NATA Annual
Meeting in Atlanta. Over 40 different organizations are
involved in providing the financial support to fund these
awards. The Foundation Scholarship Committee has done an
outstanding job in developing and maintaining these
long-term relationships. The Foundation is proud to
announce that 899 scholarships
totaling $1,599,500 have been awarded to date.
Jerry
Rhea/Atlanta Falcons Scholarship Fund
– We were extremely encouraged that the Atlanta Falcons
Youth Foundation formally transferred $150,000 to the NATA
Foundation last year, to endow the Jerry Rhea/Atlanta
Falcons Scholarship Program. This is certainly a source of
pride for our board and committee members. The earnings
from this fund should enable us to award 2 to 4 additional
scholarships annually through the NATA Foundation
Scholarship Program.
Home Study
– The PASS Program continues to be a tremendous success.
Numerous course offerings are available to assist athletic
trainers in maintaining their professional certification.
Efforts are continuing to develop a wider range of offerings
for long distance learning through internet-delivered home
study courses.
Annual Fund
–The 2006 Building Our Foundation Annual Fund campaign
generated over $145,000 in gifts from NATA members and state
and district organizations. We are extremely grateful for
the support provided for instituting dedicated dues to
benefit the Foundation. Six of ten NATA districts have now
formally provided for automatic partial distribution of dues
income directly to the Foundation. These actions clearly
demonstrate widespread support of the Foundation and its
programs. Most significant is the fact that individual
member support of the Foundation has now grown to about
75%! Our primary emphasis will be to continue to educate
the membership regarding the benefits of their Foundation
individually, and to the athletic training profession in
general. We project that continued energetic involvement by
our state and district representatives will increase member
giving each year.
Sponsorships
–
Sponsorship of Foundation programs is an
important aspect of our overall annual campaign. The
Foundation’s efforts in this area are assisted by terrific
support from the NATA Marketing & Communications
Department. We feel that our coordinated effort to offer
opportunities and associated benefits to potential sponsors
is a very effective approach. Foundation leadership is
especially appreciative of this very productive team
approach.
Foundation
Golf Classic
– The 2006 golf outing will be held at Stone Mountain Golf
Club, about 20 miles east of Atlanta. In anticipation of
continued popularity this year, two 18-hole courses have
been reserved for both morning and afternoon tee times. The
19th Hole Party, sponsored by MedZone
Corporation, will be held on Thursday evening during the
convention. Participants will enjoy an array of prizes,
raffle and auction items, and delicious food and drink. You
are welcome to attend as our guests.
NATA Night
with the Atlanta Braves
– As you
know, professional baseball has always been an attractive
fundraiser for NATA members. The 2004 World Champion Boston
Red Sox will visit Turner Field to take on the Atlanta
Braves on Friday, June 16. This promises to be a most
enjoyable evening for NATA members and guests while cheering
on two of Major League Baseball’s finest teams. Lots of
fun, food and entertainment will be featured during the
evening. The Foundation sincerely appreciates your
continued strong support of its special fund raising
activities each year. We look forward to seeing you there.
NATA
Foundation Fun Run
– An
annually increasing number of participants sign up for this
popular activity. Representatives of local running groups
are joining NATA members in this year’s event at Piedmont
Park, near downtown Atlanta, at 7:00 AM on Friday, June 16.
Efforts are under way to continue to enhance the event’s
popularity and increase member participation.
Grant
Support From Outside Sources
– The Foundation board has secured the services of outside
consultants to assist with the formal development of grant
applications to private foundations and other outside
funding agencies. This is a two-pronged effort to secure
more and broader financial support from the general
community for its programs and activities. We are
encouraged by progress to date, and hope to share good news
regarding this effort in future reports.
New
Initiatives Task Force –
We have
established a task force to examine every current Foundation
program and activity, as well as the “untapped universe” of
new and different approaches. The intent is to determine
which existing activities should be deleted, maintained,
curtailed or expanded, as well as which new ones to add.
The next challenge, of course, is to insure necessary
resources are in place to make that happen.
Web Site
– The Foundation web site undergoes continuous review, with
an effort to make certain that the information included
there is timely, informative and complete. The URL is
www.natafoundation.org
.
Please take a look at your convenience. We will appreciate
your feedback and constructive comments.
Evidence-Based Medicine Summit
– The Foundation sincerely appreciates the financial support
provided by NATA in presenting an important summit earlier
this year titled
“Infusing
Evidence-Based Medicine Into Athletic Training Research and
Clinical Practice.”
This
high-profile conference took place in January, and featured
several well-known professionals among the presentation
team. It was thoroughly successful, and clearly provided
athletic training professionals (educators, researchers and
clinicians) a better understanding of the concepts and
practical applications of Evidence-Based Medicine.
The Foundation is considering the possibility of offering
future similar conferences to address cutting-edge issues.
Financial
Support –
The
Foundation leadership, as well as the thousands of
Foundation program participants, remains most grateful for
the support demonstrated in so many ways by the NATA Board
of Directors. We are pleased to return the favor through
our own funding commitments, such as support of special
supplements to the Journal of Athletic Training, and
reprinting of the ‘Professional Preparation Checklist’
Poster, a cooperative venture with the College, University
Student Athletic Training Committee, and the Welcome
Reception here in Atlanta. We look forward to future
opportunities for progress through our joint efforts.
Leadership
– I am extremely pleased and honored that the Foundation
Board of Directors has re-elected its current leadership
team for a second, two-year term. I look forward to
continuing my service as President, as well as having Clint
Thompson continuing in his role as Vice President. Sue
Hillman has been elected as our new Treasurer, and will
begin her term here in Atlanta. We are pleased to continue
working with the other board members on behalf of the NATA
membership. The entire board has demonstrated effective
leadership and strong dedication to advancing our chosen
profession. I know you will continue to provide us the
support and cooperation needed to maintain the viability and
vitality of our organization.
Strategic
Planning
– The Foundation recognizes the importance of effective
planning. We have followed the fine example of the NATA BOD
and are continuing to develop and carry out strategic plans
for a number of different aspects of our overall mission.
This will help us to think strategically and act
strategically. We are fortunate to have a number of board
members in leadership roles who believe in this process, and
who have made significant personal commitments to the
success of these plans. The future remains bright.
